Skate wheel and method of producing same



Feb. 25, 1936. L, KNAPP SKATE WHEEL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME} Filed April 21, 1935 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFEQE SKATE WHEEL AND IVIETHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Application April 21, 1933, Serial No. 667,189

2 Claims.

and lasting.

As now constructed, wheels employed for the purposes indicated wear out quickly. They are incapable of resisting the rough usage to which they are most commonly subjected, as when the user skates upon cement and concrete walks and other surfaces oiiering high abrasive action to the Wheels. In the general form and construction of skate wheels employed in the present-day skate only a relatively small quantity of metal is present in their rims. This is due to the fact that the wheels are formed by stamping and bending, and the rims are constituted by overlapping layers which provide but little thickness. The outer layer, therefore, receives the direct wear and when this outer layer becomes worn the life of the wheel is gone. A new wheel must be substituted if use of the skate is to be continued.

The present invention aims to provide a novel form of skate wheel by which the objections and disadvantages above pointed out are overcome. It contemplates a wheel wherein the rim is formed of a single thickness of massed metal to provide the necessary wear-resisting properties to meet the rough usage to which the wheel is subjected, thereby strengthening the wheel and imparting to the same greater durability and longevity.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a wheel of the character referred to embodying in its construction such an arrangement and organization of parts as will permit the same to be manufactured at relatively low cost, and thus enable its use in the low priced skates now found generally in commerce.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel methods of manufacture by which the costs of production are reduced to the minimum, thereby contributing to the availability of the wheel for the general use to which the same is adapted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction and combination of parts, together with the methods of manufacture, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a skate wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof, on an enlarged scale, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is also a transverse sectional view of the wheel, the viewpoint being at right angles to that of Fig. 2, as on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rim of the wheel and the fixed disk thereof, indicative of the manner by which these elements are united; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the detachable or clamping disk.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates an elongated sleeve, which constitutes the hub of the herein described wheel. At the center of the sleeve IE3 is located a collar II, which is of integral formation with the sleeve. The periphery of the collar H is formed with an inwardly-tapering groove l2, and this groove receives a plurality of balls !3 which are adapted to travel therein, and constitute the anti-friction bearings of the wheel. The sloping walls of the groove l2 desirably extend at an angle of approximately to the axis of the wheel.

Arranged at one side of the collar H is a fixed disk M, a detachable clamping disk l5 being located at the opposite side of the collar II, and, in the main, these disks are complemental in form and construction. Each of the disks [4 and I5 has a central opening it, which is of sufiicient diameter to receive one end of the hub or sleeve I9 to permit the disks to freely rotate about said sleeve. Immediately adjacent to each of the openings 46 the body of each of the disks l4 and I5 is bent inwardly to provide an inclined contact area H, the inner faces of the latter bearing upon the balls l3, and thereby sustaining proper traveling contact between the disks and the balls. The formation of the contact area I! results in a dishing of the disks M and I5 immediately next to the openings I 6. Preferably, the contact faces of the areas I! lie at an angle of approximately 45 to the axis of the wheel, thereby insuring a proper support by the balls of the disks. In contiguous relation to the contact areas I! the bodies of the disks !4 and I5 extend outwardly in straight lines radially of the wheel to provide clamping areas l8. In the assembled relation of the disks l4 and !5 the clamping areas l8 are substantially parallel with each other.

The clamping area l8 of the disk l4 terminates in a horizontally-disposed annular supporting flange I9 which lies at right angles to the disk I4, a similar snpporting flange 20 being formed on the detachable clamping disk I5, the flange 20 being reversely arranged to the flange I9, said flanges extending circumferentially of the disks I4 and I 5, and being'seated against the innersurface of a 2I which surrounds said flanges.

Tlris rim-isof any desired thickness for adapting the: same to resist wear at its outer surface, and inasmuch as the thickness may be varied the material ofwhich the rim is'formed, being metal, may be massed in the rim so as to prolong the life thereof, and thus reduce wear on'the'wheel to a minimum. 7

'By reason of the flanges I9- and? being a; versely arranged they aiTord support for the rim- The disks I4 and I5 are providedwith perforations adapted to register and receive a series of rivets 24, whereby the clamping disk I5 and the fixed disk l l are held together. These rivets extend throngh the webs of the disks, and are upset in; order to hold the disks in tight relation with respect: to' each other. It will be observed; howe ier, that the inner faces of the disks I4 and I5, adjacent the perforations which receive the rivets 2 are pressed inwardly to provide lugs 25, the lugs of each disk contacting the lugs of the other.

disk in the assembled relation of the disks and thus afiording a space 26 between the disks. The

4 production are reduced to the minimum, thereby contributing to the availability of the wheel for purpose of this will presently appear.

As hereinbefore stated, one of the'object's of the present invention is the provision'of novel methods of manufacture by which the costs of the general use 'to which the same is adapted. In

furtherance of this object, the invention contemp'latesa novel method for securing the disk I4 to the rim El, and thereby binding these two elements of the wheel into a substantially integral construction so as to impart a high degree of strength and rigidity to the wheel. To this end the rim 2! is given its annular form by any improvedmeans or method. Thedisk I4 is stamped to its configuration, its external diameter being 7 such that when introduced to the rim ZI the disk will fri'ctionally engage the inner face of the rim. With the rim 2! and the disk I4 positioned in a horizontal plane, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a ring of solder-is, placed at the juncture of the disk I4 and. the inner face of the rim 2I, at the space formed at this point, a suitable flux having been applied, and withthe two parts thus assembled heat is applied, preferably by placing the parts in a soldering furnace. After the solder has melted the same penetrates into the space between the flange I9. of the disk I4 and the inner face of the rim 2|. and, upon cooling,

the. parts are firmly united in a substantially fixed or integral relation; This is the preferred method of assembling these parts. However, spot welding, and similar methods, may be resorted to to fix the'disk I4 in relation to the rim- 2 and thereby anchor the disk I4 within the rim.

V traveling.

By thus unitingthe disk I4 and the rim, the assembly and organization of the parts of the wheel maybe expedited, it being merely necessary to introduce the hub I 5 to the opening IGjof the disk, with the associatedballs [S and thereupon to position the clamping disk I5upon the disk I 4, the rivets '24 then being. applied to tie the disks together, and effectually apply the rim 23 of the disk I5 to the rabbetted edge of the rim 21. In such application of the disk I5 to the disk 54, the lugs25 of each bear against the lugs of the other disk, separating the webs thereof in.

the manner hereinbefore pointed out. Should it" happen inassembling the disk I4 to the rim 2| that'a surplus of solder remain at the joint between these parts, the ,spaced relationof vthe disks I4 and I 5 will-overcome the necessity of removal of such surplus, and the'clamping disk I5 may be properly: positioned on the rim without regard to the presence of-suchsnrplus of solder. In the ordinaryi application of the solder 'the' quantity thereof may beproperly gauged; o preclude the presence of anysurplus. I

Like the disk 14, the disk I5 maybe stampedte Z5 its required configuration.

From ,the foregoing description it is apparent? that the rim. 2I ,of the wheel-isxof a single thic'k i ness'of massed metaL'which thickness may be increasedor diminished to the desired extent-but of suchrdeg-ree of thickness'as to afford highresisting capacity to the rough surfaces over which the. wheel usually travels in the ordinary usage to which roller skates are subjected; In the wear exerted on the rim 2| the entiremassof 7 the metal therein responds thereto, and even though the entire thickness of thelrim maybe worn away, and thereby expose-the flanges I9 and. 20, these flanges still will servefas, a rim for the wheel, and as a bearing surface, with which to contact the roadway over .which the, wheel is;

The present invention sharply distinguishes from the construction offskate wheel now commonly employed because of the single'thickness,

of the rim M, which, bysuch single thickness, masses the metal in the rim. The wear is received by this massed metal, and'because of the thickness of the same it is obvious that there is greater durability and longevity to'the wheel, with greater wear-resisting properties to meet the '7 rough usage to which the wheel is subjected.

In producing the herein described wheel structure, the rim 2| is pack hardened or case hard ened so as to further increase its wear-resisting I properties without rendering the same of such brittleness as to break under the wear to'which it ened to increase-their strength.

When the wheel is assembled in the skate suitable closure caps may be used therewith in order to protect the openings I6 of the disks I4 and'I5' against the ingress of sand, dirt, and other matter which may interfere with-the free running of the balls I3 in relation I4 and I5.

.I claim: 7

'1. In a wheel of the class described,"the combination with a sleeve having a ball runway, and a series of balls arranged in'said runway, of a rim surrounding said sleeve, and'a plurality of disks to'the hub I0 and the disks arranged within the rim and disposed at opposite sides of said ball runway, each of said disks being provided with a peripheral flange extending at an angle to the disk and seated-against the inner is subjected. The disks I4 and I5 are also hard- I face of the rim, said disks being provided with contact areas for engagement with said balls to establish an anti-friction bearing between the disks and said sleeve, one of said disks being fixedly related to said rim, the other disk being detachably related to the rim and to the fixed disk and serving to clamp the balls in said runway, the inner faces of said disks being provided with projections adapted to contact and space apart said disks in their assembled relation, and means for connecting said disks.

2. In a wheel of the class described, the combination with a sleeve having a ball runway, and a series of balls arranged in said runway, of a. rim surrounding said sleeve, and a plurality of disks arranged within the rim and disposed on opposite sides of said ball runway, each of said disks being provided with a peripheral flange extending at right angles thereto and seated against the inner face of the rim, said disks being ofiset adjacent to said balls to provide contact areas for engagement with said balls to establish an antifriction bearing between the disks and said sleeve, one of said disks being fixedly related to said rim, the other disk being detachably related to the rim and to the fixed disk and serving to clamp the balls in said runway, the clamping disk having a radially-directed annular flange at its free outer edge, the adjacent edge of the rim being rabbetted to receive said radially-directed flange, whereby the detachably clamping disk is sustained in proper relation to said rim and the fixed disk, and is guided in relation to the rim when the parts are being assembled, and means for connecting said disks.

LELAND G. KNAPP. 

